Matthew Chapman
Principle Investigator
chapmanm@umich.eduPh.D. Microbiology, Indiana University
Keck and NIH Fellow, Hultgren Lab, Washington University
Matt joined the MCDB faculty in September of 2003 after a post doc at Washington University in St. Louis. He did his graduate work at Indiana University where he studied RNA-dependent RNA replication. It was there that Matt became interested in the host-pathogen interaction and so he joined Scott Hultgren's lab at Washington University in order to study urinary tract infections. However, he quickly discovered that bacterial amyloid fiber formation and function were far more interesting and his group has worked on functional amyloids ever since.
His wife and two children keep him busy when he is out of the lab.
Kailyn Jessel
Graduate Student Researcher
kajessel@umich.eduB.S. Butler University
Kailyn is part of Michigan’s Biological Chemistry department and joined the Chapman lab during the spring of 2021. She is interested in identifying requirements for the formation of different subpopulations within E. coli biofilms.
Outside of the lab, Kailyn enjoys running, cheering on Wisconsin and Butler sports teams, puzzles and reading, and ALL things Marvel and Harry Potter.
Divya Kolli
Graduate Student Researcher
dkolli@umich.eduB.S. University of Texas at Austin
Divya is part of Michigan's Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology department and joined the Chapman Lab in 2022. She is interested in studying CsgA polymerization and curli formation. Outside of the lab, Divya loves plants, food, animals, and movies.
Evelyn Sowers
Graduate Student Researcher
efswers@umich.eduB.A. Carroll College
M.S. University of Michigan
Evelyn is a PhD candidate in Michigan’s Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology department. She received her Master of Science from the same department in 2025, and joined the Chapman lab in spring of 2026.
Outside of the lab, her favorite thing to do is spend time in nature. She enjoys backpacking, gardening, and cooking.
Mark Gomulinski
Lab Technician
gomulins@umich.eduB.S. Michigan State University
Mark joined the lab as a research technician in early 2018. His efforts focus on testing novel compounds against amyloid cross seeding and fiber formation.
In his free time he plays strategy and simulation games.
Sam Schweid
Undergraduate Researcher
Sam is an undergraduate student who joined the lab in 2024. She works with Divya on a project aimed at visualizing functional amyloid polymerization.
Hassan Mustapha
Undergraduate Researcher
Hassan is an undergraduate student who joined the lab in the winter of 2026. He works with Mark and Divya on an alpha-synuclein project, testing out different amyloid inhibitors. In his free time he likes to workout and go fishing.
Brooklyn Nichols
Undergraduate Researcher
Brooklyn Nichols is an undergraduate student who joined the Chapman lab in 2026. She works with Kailyn Jessel on a project focused on characterizing the formation of UTI89 biofilms within flowcell systems.
Eleanor Vogel
Undergraduate Researcher
Ella Vogel is an undergraduate student who joined the Chapman lab in 2026. She works with Chaitra and Kailyn on a project characterizing the hypothetical protein C1162, and examining its role in the formation of UTI89 biofilms.
In her free time, Ella enjoys playing tennis, running, and cooking for family and friends.
